It's a "Wrap"

 Since Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I have a lot on my to-do list this next week before the gang arrives, let's finish up our Thanksgiving tour. We'll go back and catch the sunroom.

Once again I'm glad I left this room rather sparsely decorated. Next week when much of the family will be staying here, this room will get LOTS of use and its nice to be able to pull up a chair and not have to clear a hundred things before we can use a space. This is a favorite spot for morning coffee, quick lunches, puzzles, games, etc. and, it looks like lots of family will arrive on Wednesday. It seems that "Wicked" is hitting the theaters this week and grand daughter #3 thought it would be fun if as many of us as could went to see it Wednesday night as a tribute to so many of us seeing it on Broadway when we all traveled together to NYC. 

Then, on Thanksgiving morning the house and especially the kitchen will be bustling as all of us prepare the dishes we will later take over to daughter #3's house as she will be hosting our meal this year. I love when the house is full but I am also happy to share the "feast" that I always used to prepare. My daughter and her husband usually supply the turkey, a few side dishes and appetizers and then when all of the rest of us all bring along something else, we truly have a feast and it is not all on one person's shoulders-just like the original. Lol

I think all that is left are the bathrooms. I may need to move a few things in here before everyone arrives because there is a lot of "get in the way of life" things in the guest bath and people will actually be using this place-lots of make-up with lots of women!

And a nod in the primary. The only thing in my bedroom is a HUGE vase full of autumn leaves in the bay window accompanied by a pumpkin candle next to the photos but you'll just have to take my word for that as I forgot a picture.

I think that finishes up Thanksgiving for this year...and none too soon! Don't know if I'll have a chance to get back before the big day because there is a lot on my list but I'll definitely be back after with as many pictures as my gang will let me take-fingers crossed we can get one of the whole gang but as everyone comes and has to go at different times so we shall see! 

I'm off to make another big pot of my favorite veggie-vermicelli soup in hopes that it will last me a long time and I can get everything I want done without having to think about dinner prep for awhile. I am perfectly happy eating the same thing every day for a week if it means I don't have to think about "what's for dinner tonight". Lol Stay safe and stay tuned.

Last day.

Becky had to head home for work on Monday but because of the holiday we still had grandson #1 with us so we wanted to find something to fill the day with more fun and memories. My sister-in-law suggested we head to the Gillette Castle in East Haddam. We took a scenic route so we went through lots and lots of little "Hallmark" towns and arrived at this amazing place. Although the castle was closed to the public at this time we still enjoyed touring all of the grounds.

 

We headed off to see what other things we could find and happened upon a house that was having a tree in their front yard carved into a beautiful wood sculpture. It's not quite finished yet but definitely a beautiful work in progress.

Next we found Lavender Pond Farm in Killingworth. The plants weren't in full bloom but there were enough blossoms still there to give us a sense of their beautiful aroma and when we walked into the gift shop we were enveloped this that wonderful fragrance. I can only imagine how absolutely incredible this farm must look and smell when all of the plants are in full bloom in July!

By then we were dragging and ready for some food so we headed to Westbrook and found Bill's Seafood Restaurant right on the water. And, let's just say that those of us wanting a lobster roll were delighted when we found it on their menu!

Then it was back to Mystic for the night before having to get my grandson back to campus on Monday morning and the rest of us packed up and off to the airport in Hartford for an afternoon flight back to Tampa.

It was such a wonderful trip and it's hard to believe that it is already over but we're getting back to reality and prepping for all of the things coming in the next number of weeks.

Grand daughter #3 was here last night and we had such a lovely visit-it is kind of nice to get them one-on-one occasionally and really have a chance to talk. She is in Gainesville right now taking the LSAT exam so I'm sending her all kinds of good vibes before she returns tonight and I see how she feels it went. She'll be on her way tomorrow and then I will be celebrating grandson #2's 17th birthday with him on Friday. I haven't heard what his choice of restaurant is this year but I'm always a fan of any of his favorite places so it will be a fun evening.

I have an appointment today and a few other must-dos this week but I will try to get back quickly and finish up our tour before all things Thanksgiving are packed up and Christmas comes out-yikes! Stay safe and stay tuned!

Making More Memories

 I'm back with the next day of our trip to share. Grand daughter #2 was here yesterday and my grand dog has now safely returned home and the house is empty but just for a bit as grand daughter #4 is arriving this evening to spend the night before heading to Gainesville tomorrow to take the LSAT test. It's so much fun catching up with grandchildren who no longer live close so I am enjoying the company. Let's get to this while I have the chance.

So Day 3 was our long awaited day-Saturday-game day at the Academy. It was an early game so we were off to tailgate. The tailgate area was really "tight" for chairs and cars so we set up on the grass-not necessarily ideal for a "party" but a lot less worry about getting run over. Lol

The score may not have come out the way we wanted but grandson #1 got lots of play time and he definitely helped the defense hold the Patriots in the last quarter. We're so proud of him...we love our #49!

After Har got cleaned up and packed, we were on our way back to Mystic and our Airbnb. Since it was Veterans' Day weekend, he got to be with us until Monday. Of course, we were hungry again and, since the famous "Mystic Pizza" was only a few doors down the hill from our house, we headed there for dinner. It is fun seeing this place that is so iconic and in my memory from one of my favorite movies.

I've got to say that this might be the best Margarita pizza I have ever eaten. The fresh tomatoes and basil gave it a wonderful flavor and the crust was perfect! Maybe not a lobster roll but a close second! Lol

Then it was back to the house to catch up on all of the other college football games before turning in for one last full day on Sunday!

I hope to get back soon to finish out our trip and also the last of the Thanksgiving decor. Texts started flying this morning about what dishes everyone planned to bring for our feast so I have been reminded once again how quickly the day is approaching. Where has autumn gone? At least we're not thinking about another hurricane right now-yay!

Stay safe and stay tuned.

Just had to add one more picture. This past weekend the US Coast Guard Academy went on to beat the Merchant Marine Academy and take the trophy back to New London. This game is dubbed "the little army-navy game" and is a big deal so I'm so excited that Har got recognition as part of the defense.

Yay!

 I think I finally have all of the pictures that were taken on our trip. I think I have posted before that I am the "black sheep" of the family. I am literally the only one who still has an Android phone-not to mention an OLD Android phone. Since daughter #1 JUST bought the newest fancy whatever iPhone which is supposed to have the most incredible camera-and, since I let my battery die on one of the days-she was kind of our group "camera" as well as my sister-in-law. There have always been issues getting the pictures from other phones to mine-at least in the way I need to do it to then get them on to my computer. It involves texts or emails, downloading and then emailing them to myself before I can download to my computer. Sometimes they're blurry, sometime they come through in miniature, sometimes they don't come at all. This time it was kind of a combination but I think I finally managed to get the ones that really matter and I can share this incredible trip with you. We were gone five days and I have many photos so I think I will share days 1 & 2 today and leave the rest next time.

We flew out of Tampa on Thursday morning and arrived in Hartford early afternoon. After picking up a large rental car we were off to Mystic and our Airbnb which was an adorable historic home just up the hill from Mystic Pizza.

By then we were hungry and headed to Red36 for dinner. Almost everything in Mystic is on the water and just beautiful.

And since Har was still studying for exams, we used the rest of the evening to stroll around town and pick up some snacks.

We awoke to a beautiful day and since grandson #1 was taking exams and then had football practice we planned our day in Newport. RI. We used scenic routes whenever possible and were lucky enough to catch some of the beautiful autumn color! We started our day on the Cliff Walk. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and the weather was perfect!

Of course by now, we are hungry again so we headed to downtown-which we all thought reminded us of being in a Hallmark movie.

That was a pretty full day and we were tired so we went back to the house, grabbed some dinner and settled down for a movie and then bed so we could be up and out in the morning for our big day on campus!

I'll be back with more...until then, stay safe and stay tuned. I'm off to watch Harrison's last football game of this season with grand dog Dakota who is here with me for a few days...and keeping me company as I post. Lol

Stay safe and stay tuned!